Leslie French

Leslie Richard French (23 April 1904 – 21 January 1999) was a British actor of stage and screen.

French was primarily a theatre actor, as well as a director, singer and dancer, with a varied career that included the classics, musical revue, pantomime and ballet. He became most associated with the role of Ariel in William Shakespeare's The Tempest, and over the years he essayed many of Shakespeare's spirits and clowns, such as Puck, Feste and Touchstone.

Early life French was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1904 and was educated at the London School of Choristers. He made his first appearance as a child actor in a 1914 Christmas show at the Little Theatre and left school the same year to join the touring Ben Greet Company as a stagehand and prompter. revue, pantomime had multi-racial casts performing to multi-racial audiences. In 1963 he was awarded the key to the city for his work with the theatre. He finally appeared in the programme in its 1988 serial, Silver Nemesis, playing the Mathematician.

Selected filmography Radio Pirates (1935) – Leslie Peg of Old Drury (1935) – Alexander Pope This England (1941) – Johnny The Wallet (1952) Orders to Kill (1958) – Marcel Lafitte The Scapegoat (1959) – Lacoste The Singer Not the Song (1961) – Father Gomez The Leopard (1963) – Cavalier Chevally The Rescue Squad (1963) – Mr. Manse More Than a Miracle (1967) – Brother Giuseppe de Coopertino Death in Venice (1971) – Travel Agent Lady Killers (1980) – Justice Denman Invitation to the Wedding (1983) – Hobbs The Living Daylights (1987) – Lavatory Attendant Young Toscanini (1987) – Comparsa (uncredited)